Lead supervisor:
Dr Eirini Sanoudaki 
Start date: October 2021 (Part time)
Award: Collaborative
Subject Pathway:
Linguistics and Bilingualism
Thematic Cluster:
Language, Learning and Behaviour Cluster
In partnership with:
Down's Syndrome Association 
Interactions of Language Use, Neurotype, and Reasoning
This project looks at the interaction of language use, neurotype, and reasoning skills. It ranges over a number of understudied areas, including reasoning in people with Down syndrome (DS), the impact of bi- or multi-lingualism on decision making, and the influence of autism on reasoning in people with and without DS. In order to do this, a combination of established and novel measures of reasoning skill will be employed that will allow for the straightforward identification of quantifiable differences.
Caregivers naturally want to confer every advantage they can, but advice, which is not at all empirically supported, to raise children with DS-ASD monolingually is often given to these caregivers. The relative dearth of literature looking at bilingualism and DS-ASD could be contributing to this problem. Improved reasoning skills are advantageous to all populations, and this project seeks to close the current gap in the literature.
Research Impact
Should the parents and caregivers of neurodivergent children raise them speaking more than one language? What are the potential impacts? In some cases, such as Welsh/English bilingualism and autistic people with Down syndrome, the literature is scarce at best. This project will provide an evidence base for parent and caregiver decision making by identifying the impact of bilingualism on reasoning skills. These skills have enormous potential to improve people's quality of life.
Biography
I come from an outdoor education background, and have co-authored three papers on place and climate change. I am also an L1 Welsh speaker who had the benefit of a fully bilingual education. Has that given me an advantage in life? If it has, would it do the same for other people with my neurotye or others? If it would, then others should be given the same opportunity.